Hundreds gather to pray dawn (fajr) prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque after closure
QUDS, April 10 (YPA) – Hundreds of Palestinian Muslims gathered at Al-Aqsa Mosque to pray dawn (fajr) prayers on a Friday for the first time since Israeli occupation forces closed it to worshippers on February 28.
In the first Friday since the reopening, thousands of worshippers filled the Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Qibli Mosque, after arriving in large numbers for the early morning prayer.
Despite tight restrictions, many were able to reach the compound. Israeli occupation forces reportedly imposed strict measures at the gates, including ID checks, denying entry to some young men, and confronting several worshippers in attempts to push them away from the courtyards.
The large turnout came after one of the longest closures of the mosque in decades, underscoring Palestinians’ determination to restore regular worship and maintain their presence at the site.
Calls circulated among Palestinians urging mass attendance, with an emphasis on making the first Friday prayer after reopening one of the largest in the mosque’s history.
In a statement, Hamas urged Palestinians in Quds (Jerusalem) and inside occupied territories to travel to Al-Aqsa, maintain a constant presence, and reinforce ties to the mosque following its reopening.
The group said Al-Aqsa would remain central to the conflict and a responsibility shared by Palestinians and the wider Arab and Muslim world.
Israeli occupation authorities reopened the mosque to worshippers starting from dawn prayers on Thursday after a continuous 40-day closure.
The shutdown had prevented Palestinians from attending Friday prayers, Taraweeh during Ramadan, as well as Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking one of the longest such closures in recent years.
During the Jewish holiday of Passover, which began on April 2 and runs through April 9, activist groups called for increased visits to the compound and controversial ritual practices.
Religious and official bodies had warned that the continued closure of Al-Aqsa constituted a serious violation of freedom of worship and called for urgent international intervention to halt such measures.
@E.Y.M